Humidifier

ABSTRACT

A humidifier for humidifying air, said humidifier comprising a housing having an inlet for dry air and an outlet for humidified air and having water therein, means fixed in the housing between the inlet and outlet thereof, said means having a plurality of restricted openings therethrough for the passage of air and constructed to allow the air to pass therethrough in contact with the water resulting in turbulence of the water and humification of the air.

United States Patent [1 1 Peters 1 HUMIDIFIER [76] Inventor: William H. Peters, 304 E. Wabash Street, Montpelier, Ohio 43543 [22] Filed: Jan. 19, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 218,921

[52] US. Cl. 126/113, 261/119, 261/DIG. 15,

[51] Int. Cl F241 3/14 [58] Field of Search 261/119, DIG. 15,

261/DIG. 27; 55/225, 226, 239, 244, 245,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,812,167 11/1957 Wroth 55/244 June 19, 1973 2,119,207 5/1938 Gibbs 261/119 R Primary ExaminerWilliam E. Wayner Assistant Examiner-William E. Tapolcai, Jr. Attorney- Luke A. Mattare, James W. Dent and John F. Smith [57] ABSTRACT A humidifier for humidifying air, said humidifier comprising a housing having an inlet for dry air and an outlet for humidified air and having water therein, means fixed in the housing between the inlet and outlet thereof, said means having a plurality of restricted openings therethrough for the passage of air and constructed to allow the air to pass therethrough in contact with the water resulting in turbulence of the water and humification of the air.

13 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patented June 19, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented June 19, 1973 3,739,77

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 Q 35- |3-' L l 3 ,12

HUMIDIFIER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a humidifier for replenishing or adding moisture to the air in an enclosed area.

The maintainence of the proper moisture content in enclosed areas is particularly important when heating systems such as hot air furnaces and the like are used to supply heat to the enclosed area, since the heating of air in hot air furnaces substantially reduces the moisture content thereof.

There are many types of humidifiers known in the prior art for adding or replenishing the moisture content of air in enclosed areas, and these prior art humidifiers range from devices which have a rotating member with its lower portion submerged in water and which slings water into the heated area of a furnace, to simple devices which have a porous means with a portion thereof immersed in water.

Further, some prior art humidifiers comprise portable devices which are separate from the central or other heating unit and which are placed in a room or other enclosed area and add moisture directly to the air after it is heated and introduced into the enclosed area. Other humidifiers are connected with the heating unit, such as a hot air furnace or the like, and add moisture to the air before it is circulated to the rooms or other enclosed areas.

Prior art humidifiers can be further broken down into two basic types, recirculating and non-recirculating. In the recirculating type of humidifier, water is pumped into the humidifier where it is exposed for evaporation with a suitable means, such as a porous pad, a screen, a plurality of rotating discs, or the like, and wherein the excess water not evaporated is conveyed to a sump from which it is recirculated by means of a suitable pump back into the humidifier. In the non-recirculating type, water is introduced into the humidifier through a float valve or the like and is replenished only when necessary to maintain a predetermined water level in the humidifier. Any excess water is conveyed to.a drain.

All such prior art humidifiers include some form of means for producing or enhancing evaporation of water, and the most common type of such prior art evaporation producing or enhancing means comprises a porous means having a portion thereof immersed in water with another portion thereof in the path of flowing air. The porous means collects water and distributes the water over a large area, thus exposing a large surface 1 area of the water to the air for evaporation of the water. One such type of prior art device comprises a porous midifier which slings water into a heated area of the furnace, mineral deposits may even accumulate on the heat transfer elements of the furnace and thus reduce the efficiency of the furnace.

The accumulation of mineral deposits in prior art humidifiers is extremely rapid, and unless remedial maintainence or replacement of parts is frequently performed, most prior art humidifiers are rendered either inefficient or completely inoperative in a very short time.

The present invention provides a humidifier which solves the problems existing in the prior art, and results in a humidifier which is economical to manufacture and sell and which is easy to install. Moreover, the humidifier of the present invention is substantially more efficient in operation than prior art humidifiers, and the life of the humidifier is determined only by the normal wear of the mechanical components thereof since there is substantially no accumulation of mineral deposits therein as the water evaporates.

According to the present invention, the humidifier comprises a closed housing having an elastic evaporator partition means therein dividing the interior of the housing into an inlet area and an outlet area, with the lower portion thereof submerged in water. A blower is mounted atone end of the housing and an inlet extends from the blower into the inlet area of the housing. An outlet extends from the outlet area of the housing on the opposite side of the partition from the inlet area. A plurality of openings are in the lower portion of the evaporator partition with the major portion of said openings submerged in the water. The humidifier of the present invention is positioned on a hot air furnace or the like with both the inlet and outlet thereof connected with the hot air plenum of the furnace, and the blower is connected to operate with the blower of the furnace. Air forced through the inlet by the blower of the humidifier passes through the upper portions of the plurality of openings in the evaporator partition and then to the outlet of the humidifier and back into the hot air plenum of the furnace. The restricted size of the openings available for the passage of the air through the partition results in a build up of pressure on the 4 '.inlet side of the partition with the result that some of cylindrical pad rotated with a portion thereof .sub

rous screens or pads or the like, or in the drain holes,

or on the floats of float valves and so forth. Additionally, the build up of mineral deposits in the water in'a recirculating type humidifier causes excessive loading of the recirculating pump, with consequent failure of the pump. In other instances, such as in the type of huthe water is forced to the outlet side thereof with a consequent rise in the level of water on the outlet side, thus closing off the openings through the partition. This results in an increase in pressure of the air in, the inletthe'humidifier and actually vibrates during operation of the humidifier to prevent the accumulation of mineral deposits on the evaporator partition and dislodge any mineral deposits which may accumulate thereon. The vibration of the evaporator partition also contributes to the agitation of the water to further enhance the addition of moisture to the air.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a humidifier having means therein for preventing the accumulation of mineral deposits and the like therein, and for effecting thorough humidification of the air flowing through the humidifier.

Another object of this invention is to provide a humidifier for replenishing or adding moisture to air, which includes an elastic evaporator partition therein having passage means through which air passes in going from the inlet to the outlet of the humidifier, said elastic evaporator partition flexing with each cycle of operation of the humidifier to prevent the accumulation of mineral deposits thereon.

An even further object of this invention is to provide a humidifier for adding or replenishing moisture to air in which air is caused to flow through the humidifier, and in the course of its passage through the humidifier, the air forcibly displaces water in the humidifier to create turbulence and agitation of the water to thus expose substantially all of the air to the water with the result that substantial moisture is added to the air as it passes through the humidifier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a hot air furnace and the ducts therefor and showing a humidifier in accordance with the invention connected with the hot air plenum of the furnace.

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of the humidifier of FIG. 1 with the cover of the humidifer removed and portions of the humidifier shown in section.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the underside of the cover for the humidifier of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view, shown partly in section, of the humidifier of FIG. 1 and is taken along line 4--4 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the evaporator partition and the end baffle plate removed from the humidifier.

FIG. 6 is a partial, sectional end view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 4 and shows the humidifier at the beginning of a cycle of operation.

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG. 6, showing the humidifier immediately after the beginning of an operating cycle.

FIG. .8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 of the humidifier during a cycle of operation thereof, showing the action of the flexible evaporator partition and the air interreacting with the water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts through the several views, a hot air furnace is indicated generally at F in FIG. 1, and includes a hot air plenum HP for conducting heated air to an enclosed area and a cold air plenum C? for returning the air to the hot air furnace from the enclosed area.

A humidifier according to the present invention is indicated generally at H and has an inlet I and an outlet 0 connected to the hot air plenum HP of the furnace. A blower B is connected in the inlet to the humidifier H for forcing air through the humidifier. The blower B is wired in circuit with the blower of the hot air furnace by means of suitable electrical wiring or cable C so that the blower B operates when the blower for the furnace operates, and a humidstat h is mounted in the cold air plenum CP and is connected with the blower B for interrupting operation of the blower B when the humidity of the returning air is sufficiently high that operation of the humidifier is not required. The humidstat h is connected with the motor of the blower B by means of suitable electrical wiring W.

Details of construction of the humidifier H can best be seen in FIGS. 2 through 5. The humidifier H comprises a generally rectangularly shaped housing 10 formed of a suitable material such as stainless steel or the like for durability and strength and including a bottom 1 1, opposite side walls 12 and 13, and opposite end walls 14 and 15. A rectangularly shaped lid 16 is positioned over the top of the housing 10 for closing the open upper end thereof and suitable latch means 17 and 18 are on the housing 10 and lid 16, respectively, for securely latching the lid in position on the housing.

Strips 19 of a suitable sealing material such as urethane foam or the like are suitably secured, as with an adhesive -.or the like, to the underside of the lid 16 around the edge thereof for sealing engagement with the upper edges of the walls 12, 13, 14 and when the lid is in position. Further, similar sealing strips 20 are suitably secured to the underside of the lid as with adhesive or the like and extend from points spaced slightly inwardly from the opposite edges of the lid at one end thereof to the other end of the lid spaced slightly outwardly from the center of the lid. A relatively short strip 21 of sealing material is suitably secured to the underside of the lid and extends between the ends of the strips 20 at said other end of the lid. The sealing strips 20 and 21 engage the uppcredge of a generally V-shaped, elastic evaporator partition means indicated generally at 22 to effect a seal therewith and to divide the interior of the housing 10 into an inlet area A and a pair of outlet areas B when the lid is secured to the housing 10.

The evaporator partition 22 comprises an open, rigid frame of wire or the like, including an upper frame portion 23 having a pair of converging wires 24 and 25 integrally joined at one end with a short, laterally extending wire 26, and a bottom frame portion 27 having a pair of converging wires 28 and 29 joined at one end by a short, laterally extending wire 30. The top and bottom wires 24 and 28 on one side of the frame are integrally joined at their other ends by a vertically extending wire 31, and the top and bottom wires 25 and 29 at the other side of the frame are similarly integrally joined at their other ends by a vertically extending wire 32. A flat rectangular plate 33 is suitably affixed as by welding or the like at its upper and lower ends to the laterally extending wires 26 and at said one end of the frame.

A large rectangular sheet 34 of a suitable elastomer such as Nordel or the like is secured to the wire frame with its upper and lower edges folded around the upper and lower frame portions 23 and 24 and suitably secured thereabout as with an adhesive or stitching or the like to define opposite, converging sides 35 and 36 and an end 37. A pair of elongate, vertically extending channel shaped guide members 38 and 39 are on the free ends of the sides 35 and 36 to aid in the insertion of the evaporator partition 22 into the housing 10 and its removal therefrom.

A plurality of elongate, vertically extending slots 40 and 41 are formed in the lower edges of the elastomer on sides 35 and 36, respectively, and define passage means for the flow of air through the evaporator partition 22 from the inlet area A to the outlet areas B.

A large rectangular baffle plate 42 is positioned across the end 15 of the housing in spaced relationship thereto and is held in centered, spaced relationship relative to the outlet 0 by means of a pair of vertically spaced, laterally extending, U-shaped support flanges 43 and 44 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the upper and lower ends of the plate 42. Each of the support flanges 43 and 44 extends outwardly at its opposite ends beyond the opposite edges of the baffle plate 42, and each is of substantially the same length as the width of the end wall so as to extend into engagement with the side walls 12 and 13 of the housing. A pair of legs 45, 46 and 47 and 48 extend perpendicularly from the ends of the flanges 43 and 44, respectively, into the corners of the housing 10 and into engagement with the end wall 15.

A pair of vertically extending angle members 49 and 50 are suitably affixed as by welding or the like to the end wall 14 spaced inwardly from the opposite edges thereof and define retaining flanges behind which the channel members 38 and 39 on the evaporator partition 22 are received and held when the evaporator partition is positioned within the housing. The baffle plate 42 serves as an abutment against which the end 37 of the evaporator partition 22 engages when it is in position within the housing, and the baffle plate also serves to prevent droplets of liquid from going into the outlet 0 during operation of the humidifier.

A suitable float valve V is mounted within the housing on the end wall 14 in operative association with a water inlet 51 for maintaining a predetermined level L of water within the housing 10, with the level L being just below the upper ends of the slots 40 and 41 as seen best in FIG. 4.

The operation of the evaporator partition 22 as seen best in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, and in FIG. 6, the blower B on the humidifier has just been actuated and air is just begining to flow through the slots 40 and 41 in the opposite sides 35 and 36 of the evaporator partition and to the outlet. At this stage of the operation, the pressure is not increased within the inlet area A to a point sufficient to deflect either the sides 35 and 36 of the evaporator partition or to cause turbulence of the water within the housing.

In FIG. 7, the action of the sides 35 and 36 of the evaporator partition and of the water within the housing is shown after the blower B has been operated a predetermined time. At this stage of the operation of the humidifier, the pressure within inlet area A has increased to a point sufficient to cause the water between the opposite sides 35 and 36 of the evaporator partition to flow outwardly through the slots 40 and 41 into the outlet areas B. The level of the water in the outlet areas accordingly rises to a level above the tops of the slots 40 and 41, completely closing off the slots and thus preventing the passage of air from the inlet area A to the outlet area B. Since the air is compressible, the pressure in the inlet area A increases to a point sufficient to cause the sides 35 and 36 of the partition to bow outwardly as seen in FIG. 8. As the pressure in the inlet area increases further, the compressed air actually physically overcomes or displaces the water from the slots 40 and 41; and there is thus a sudden release of energy or of pressure of the air from the inlet area which in turn results in a reduction of the pressure in the inlet, permitting the water to flow back through the slots 40 and 41 under the action of gravity thus covering the slots 40 and 41 for a repeat cycle. This action occurs very rapidly and in operation water first occupies the slots 40 and 41 and is then forcibly displaced therefrom with great rapidity. The elastomer partition tends to vibrate or move harmonically with movement of the water through the slots and with changes in the pressure of the air in the inlet chamber and accord ingly, the result is a rapid vibration of the partition and substantial turbulence and agitation of the water in the area of the slots 40 and 41 and in the outlet areas which contributes substantially to the evaporation of the water and also results in cleaning of mineral deposits and the like from the partition. This rapid vibration of the elastomer partition and turbulence of the water insures substantially complete contact of the air with the water in its passage from the inlet to the outlet of the humidifier.

Any mineral deposits which have accumulated on the sides 35 and 36 and which are dislodged therefrom, fall to the bottom 11 of the housing 10 where they may be easily removed, and thus no damage is caused to the humidifier or to any of the furnace components by the mineral deposits left behind as the water is evaporated.

If desired, suitable heater means, such as a Calrod heating element, for example, can be mounted in said housing beneath the water level therein to heat said water to aid in the evaporation of the water.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A humidifier for adding moisture to air, comprising an housing, an inlet for dry air and an outlet for moistened air in said housing, a unique elastic evaporator partition means having upper and lower ends and secured at its upper and lower ends in said housing between said inlet and said outlet and dividing said housing into an inlet area and an outlet area, passage means in said elastic evaporator partition means through which air passes in flowing from said inlet to said outlet, said passage means at least partially immersed in water in said housing to restrict the area of said passage means open to flow of air therethrough, passage of air through said passage means causing said elastic evaporator partition means to flex elastically with each cycle of operation of said humidifier and thus vibrate rapidly to prohibit accumulation of mineral deposits and the like thereon, and said air as it flows through said passage means forcibly displacing said water and inducing turbulence of said water to effect contact of substantially all of said air with said water to humidify said air.

, 2. A humidifier as in claim 1, wherein said passage means comprises a plurality of elongate slots through the lower edge portion of said elastic evaporator partition means.

3. A humidifier as in claim 2, wherein said housing has a bottom, opposite end walls, opposite side walls,

and a removable cover, said inlet being in one end wall and said outlet in the other end wall.

4. A humidifier as in claim 3, wherein said elastic evaporator partition means comprises a pair of said portions and an end portion joined together in a V- shape, said end portion being at the point of said V- shape and said side portions diverging toward the inlet to said housing and sealed to said one end wall on opposite sides of said inlet.

5. A humidifier as in claim 4, wherein a baffle plate is in said housing across said outlet in spaced relationship thereto to prevent droplets of water from passing into the outlet.

6. A humidifier as in claim 5, wherein said end wall of said evaporator partition means is in abutting contact with said baffle plate.

7. A humidifier as in claim 6,,wherein said elastic evaporator partition means is of the same height as the side and end walls of said housing.

8. A humidifier as in claim 7, wherein seal means is on the inside of said cover in sealing contact with said side and end walls of said housing and with the top edge of said elastic evaporator partition means.

9. A humidifier as in claim 8, wherein said elastic evaporator partition means comprises a sheet of elastomer material secured on a wire frame.

10. A humidifier as in claim 9, wherein a float valve is mounted in said housing in operative relationship to an inlet for water to control the level of water in said housing.

11. A humidifier as in claim 10, wherein a blower is in said inlet, said blower connected to operate with the furnace blower.

12. A humidifier as in claim 11, wherein a humidstat is mounted in the cold air plenum of the furnace and is connected with the motor of said blower in said inlet to control the operation of the blower in response to the humidity of air returning to said furnace.

13. A humidifier as in claim 1, wherein the tops of the restricted passage means through said elastic evaporator partition means are spaced above the level of water in the humidifier and the bottoms of said restricted passage means are spaced below the level of water in said humidifier, the spacing of the tops of said passage means above the level of water being such that upon initial flow of air through said passage means, the pressure in the inlet area increases to a point sufficient to displace water through said passage means to the outlet areas to cause the level of water in the outlet areas to rise above the tops of the passage means thus closing off the passage means and resulting in an increase in pressure in the inlet area, said increased pressure in the inlet area forcibly displacing the water from the passage means and thus relieving the pressure in the inlet area so that the water flows back through the passage means by gravity and again closes off the passage means to effect repetition of a cycle of operation, the alternate closing of the passage means and forcible displacement of water therefrom resulting in rapid vibration of the evaporator partition means and substantial turbulence of the water to thoroughly moisten or humidify the air and to dislodge and prevent accumulation of mineral deposits on the evaporator partition means. 

1. A humidifier for adding moisture to air, comprising an housing, an inlet for dry air and an outlet for moistened air in said housing, a unique elastic evaporator partition means having upper and lower ends and secured at its upper and lower ends in said housing between said inlet and said outlet and dividing said housing into an inlet area and an outlet area, passage means in said elastic evaporator partition means through which air passes in flowing from said inlet to said outlet, said passage means at least partially immersed in water in said housing to restrict the area of said passage means open to flow of air therethrough, passage of air through said passage means causing said elastic evaporator partition means to flex elastically with each cycle of operation of said humidifier and thus vibrate rapidly to prohibit accumulation of mineral deposits and the like thereon, and said air as it flows through said passage means forcibly displacing said water and inducing turbulence of said water to effect contact of substantially all of said air with said water to humidify said air.
 2. A humidifier as in claim 1, wherein said passage means comprises a plurality of elongate slots through the lower edge portion of said elastic evaporator partition means.
 3. A humidifier as in claim 2, wherein said housing has a bottom, opposite end walls, opposite side walls, and a removable cover, said inlet being in one end wall and said outlet in the other end wall.
 4. A humidifier as in claim 3, wherein said elastic evaporator partition means comprises a pair of said portions and an end portion joined together in a V-shape, said end portion being at the point of said V-shape and said side portions diverging toward the inlet to said housing and sealed to said one end wall on opposite sides of said inlet.
 5. A humidifier as in claim 4, wherein a baffle plate is in said housing across said outlet in spaced relationship thereto to prevent droplets of water from passing into the outlet.
 6. A humidifier as in claim 5, wherein said end wall of said evaporator partition means is in abutting contact with said baffle plate.
 7. A humidifier as in claim 6, wherein said elastic evaporator partition means is of the same height as the side and end walls of said housing.
 8. A humidifier as in claim 7, wherein seal means is on the inside of said cover in sealing contact with said side and end walls of said housing and with the top edge of said elastic evaporator partition means.
 9. A humidifier as in claim 8, wherein said elastic evaporator partition means comprises a sheet of elastomer material secured on a wire frame.
 10. A humidifier as in claim 9, wherein a float valve is mounted in said housing in operative relationship to an inlet for water to control the level of water in said housing.
 11. A humidifier as in claim 10, wherein a blower is in said inlet, said blower connected to operate with the furnace blower.
 12. A humidifier as in claim 11, wherein a humidstat is mounted in the cold air plenum of the furnace and is connected with the motor of said blower in said inlet to control the operation of the blower in response to the humidity of air returning to said furnace.
 13. A humidifier as in claim 1, wherein the tops of the restricted passage means through said elastic evaporator partition means are spaced above the level of water in the humidifier and the bottoms of said restricted passage means are spaced below the level of water in said humidifier, the spacing of the tops of said passage means above the level of water being such that upon initial flow of air through said passage means, the pressure in the inlet area increases to a point sufficient to displace water through said passage means to the outlet areas to cause the level of water in the outlet areas to rise above the tops of the passage means thus closing off the passage means and resultinG in an increase in pressure in the inlet area, said increased pressure in the inlet area forcibly displacing the water from the passage means and thus relieving the pressure in the inlet area so that the water flows back through the passage means by gravity and again closes off the passage means to effect repetition of a cycle of operation, the alternate closing of the passage means and forcible displacement of water therefrom resulting in rapid vibration of the evaporator partition means and substantial turbulence of the water to thoroughly moisten or humidify the air and to dislodge and prevent accumulation of mineral deposits on the evaporator partition means. 